Health Library

New Drug Might Reduce Sickle Cell Pain Crises SATURDAY, Dec. 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- An experimental drug may help reduce episodes of pain associated with sickle cell disease, a new study finds. Results of an early trial showed the drug -- called SelG1 for now -- reduced episodes of sickle cell-related pain crises by 45 percent. In addition, the drug appeared safe and was well-tolerated, researchers say. "Patients with sickle cell disease have complications, the most common of which is pain crises t...

Normal Blood Pressure in Clinic May Mask Hypertension MONDAY, Dec. 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- It's commonly believed that anxiety in the doctor's office causes patients' blood pressure to rise. But for some people, the opposite occurs: Their blood pressure is normal at their medical appointment but elevated the rest of the day. This phenomenon is called "masked hypertension." The best way to uncover it is to wear a small monitoring device for 24 hours, researchers said. For this new study, the research...

New Clues to Huge Jump in U.S. Mosquito Population TUESDAY, Dec. 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- New research hints at why the number of mosquitoes has jumped 10-fold in the past 50 years in certain U.S. states: Increased urbanization and shrinking levels of the pesticide DDT in the environment could be major factors. "At first glance, recent increases in mosquito populations appear to be linked to rising temperatures from climate change, but careful analyses of data over the past century show that it's act...

New Drug Combo Shows Promise Curbing Tough-to-Treat Breast Cancer THURSDAY, Dec. 8, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- In women with a certain form of tough-to-treat breast cancer, treatment with a combination of two drugs appeared to keep the cancer at bay longer -- from about five months to 10, a new study says. The cancer is known as "advanced hormone receptor positive, HER 2 negative" breast cancer. Women with these tumors are often given drugs called aromatase inhibitors, which work by reducing estrogen in t...

New Parkinson's Gene Identified TUESDAY, Nov. 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers say they've identified a gene mutation that could be associated with early onset Parkinson's disease in white people. The mutation occurs in a gene that produces dopamine in the brain, and its impact is particularly strong in people younger than 50, according to the Iowa State University researchers. Rigidity and loss of muscle function in Parkinson's patients is linked with reduced levels of dopamine in the part of t...

Never Too Old for a Mammogram? MONDAY, Nov. 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Women who think they're too old to worry about mammograms may want to reconsider the age at which their breast cancer screening years are behind them, a new study suggests. Based on an analysis of nearly 7 million mammograms over a seven-year period, "the benefit continues with increasing age up until 90," said study author Dr. Cindy Lee. She is an assistant professor in residence at the University of California, San Francisco. The...

New Skin Patch Analyzes Your Sweat During Exercise WEDNESDAY, Nov. 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- How much are you really sweating when you exercise? You may not need to wring yourself dry to find out. Researchers say they've developed a flexible device that sticks to the skin, analyzes your sweat and sends the results to your smartphone. That's not all. Researchers say the device -- about the size of a quarter -- offers insight into whether you need to drink more water or down an energy drink to boost el...

No Benefit From Routine Thyroid Cancer Screening: Task Force TUESDAY, Nov. 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors should not screen for thyroid cancer in patients who have no symptoms of the disease, according to a U.S. Preventive Services Task Force draft recommendation. It reaffirms a recommendation issued 20 years ago. Thyroid cancer is rare in the United States. In 2016, an estimated 64,300 new cases will be diagnosed, representing 3.8 percent of all new cancers. The thyroid is a small gland in the ne...

Neighborhoods May Be Key to Teens' Mental Well-Being FRIDAY, Nov. 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Teenagers living in cohesive neighborhoods -- where trusted neighbors get involved in monitoring each other's children -- experience fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety, a new study suggests. The researchers also found consistent results across different cities regardless of family composition and neighborhood income, indicating strong neighborhoods help teen mental health across various populations. Alon...

New Fetal Views in 3-D MONDAY, Nov. 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Expectant parents may soon be able to view a three-dimensional virtual reality version of the fetus, researchers say. This is possible with new technology that combines MRI and ultrasound data into a 3-D that can be viewed with virtual reality devices. In tests, Brazilian researchers found that virtual reality fetal 3-D models are similar to the appearance of the newborn after birth. The models recreate the entire internal structure of the...